Buffer coupling

ABSTRACT

A central buffer coupling for rail vehicles having a series connected buffer gear includes a pivot pin which is supported on a rail vehicle in a vertical position. A coupling head including a buffer gear has a connecting arm, which is universally supported on the pivot pin for vertical and horizontal deflection. A support arm of U-shaped configuration is carried at the lower end of the pivot pin and a leaf spring has one end connected to the support arm end and an opposite end connected to the coupling head and it extends substantially in a longitudinal buffer direction. The spring urges the coupling head with the buffer gear continuously into a center position in respect to vertical deflection. A feature of the construction is the provision of an adjustable rest which is carried on the support arm and which may be adjusted to bear against the leaf spring and support it in the extended position. The construction eliminates stress on the pivot when the suspension slacks and the horizontal position of the coupling is restored by the simple adjusting means which bears upwardly on the leaf spring.

United States Patent Scharfenberg [54] BUFFER COUPLING [72] Inventor: Walter Scharfenberg, Sz-Thiede,

Gennany [73] Assigneez Scharfenbergkupplung Gmbl-l, Salzgitter-Watenstedt, Germany [22] Filed: July 22, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 57,272

52 us. (:1. ..213/14, 213/20, 213/69 51 1m. 01 ..B6lg 7/12 [58] Field or Search ..267/41, 48, 52, 54, 56; 213/19, 20, 114, 21, 60, 61, 69

[56] References Cited UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 3,556,312 1/1971 Herbert ..213/14 1,759,948 5/1930 Libby ..267/48 3,168,300 2/1965 Giovinazzo ..267/41 1,854,442 4/1932 Baird ..267/48 1,099,539 6/1914 De La Monte ..267/48 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 188,366 l/l957 Germany ..213/61 1,056,340 A 1/1967 Great Britain ..213/61 1151 3,684,105 51 Aug. 15, 1972 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney-McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT A central buffer coupling for rail vehicles having a series connected buffer gear includes a pivot pin which is supported on a rail vehicle in a vertical position. A coupling head including a buffer gear has a connecting arm, which is universally supported on the pivot pin for vertical and horizontal deflection. A support arm of U-shaped configuration is carried at the lower end of the pivot pin and a leaf spring has one end connected to the support ann end and an opposite end connected to the coupling head and it extends substantially in a longitudinal buffer direction. The spring urges the coupling head with the buffer gear continuously into a center position in respect to vertical deflection. A feature of the construction is the provision of an adjustable rest which is carried on the support arm and which may be adjusted to bear against the leaf spring and support it in the extended position. The construction eliminates stress on the pivot when the suspension slacks and the horizontal position of the coupling is restored by the simple adjusting means which bears upwardly on the leaf spring.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTED AUG 15 1912 R1701" E'IS BUFFER COUPLING SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of couplings and, in particular, to a new and useful central buffer coupling for rail vehicles which includes a bufier gear or shock absorber having an arm which is universally suspended on a pivot pin and wherein the pivot pin carries a support plate for holding one end of I the horizontal and vertical deflection of the coupling through a universal joint mounting. In the known arrangements of this type of coupling, the coupling head shaft is held in a center position by a transverse leaf spring which is suspended like a pendulum from the chassis of the railway car. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the pendulum must be suspended very far from the chassis in order to absorb great strokes of movement of the coupling so that the overall length of the individual car and that of the entire train is increased. When running in a curve the size of the lateral deflection of the coupling. head is determined by the pendulums. It has also been suggested that the supporting springs be designed as bending springs which act in directions perpendicular to each other. Such known embodiments permit a longitudinal suspension of the coupling but they are unsuitable for curves since the prestressed support cannot follow the deflection of the coupling head shaft and it therefore acts against the curve adjustment of the coupling head. The spring force of the support must therefore be overcome when driving around a curve. In addition, this support is pulled far down in its bearings so that the total arrange ment has a great overall height.

In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages of the prior art construction are overcome by providing a leaf spring which extends in the buffering direction and which is held immovably with one end in a U-shaped supporting arm which is secured directly on the pivot pin. The other end bears on the buffer gear and urges the latter upwardly continuously into a central position. An adjustable rest arranged on the supporting arm supports the leaf spring at a spaced location from its connection to the supporting arm. The stress on the pivot can thus be eliminated when the suspension slacks and the horizontal position of the coupling is restored by simple adjustment means.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a buffer coupling construction which includes a coupling head having a buffer gear with a connecting arm which is universally supported on a pivot pin which is connected to the rail car, and which also includes a support arm carried by the pin which supports one end of a leaf spring which bears upwardly at its opposite end against the buffer gear to hold the coupling head in a neutral position and which also includes adjustable rest means which bears against the spring intermediate its supports.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buffer coupling which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The only FIGURE-of the drawing is a partial elevational and partial axial sectional view of a buffer coupling constructed in accordance with the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a coupling assembly generally designated 20 which includes a coupling head 1 which is connected through a split sleeve 2 with a buffer gear 3. The buffer gear 3 includes a relatively displaceable bar or arm 4 having a free end which carries a ball and socket joint 5 which surrounds a pivot pin 7. The pivot pin 7 is mounted on a rail vehicle 6 in a substantially vertical position and! it includes a lower end 7a which is affixed to a U-shaped supporting arm or plate 8.

In accordance with the invention, a leaf spring 10 providing a horizontal support for the coupling 20 and tending to maintain the coupling in a neutral position in respect to a vertical plane includes one end 10a which is held by a rear plate 9 secured to the U-shaped supporting arm 8 and an opposite end 10b which is engaged within a bracket 22 of a sliding plate 1 1 which is mounted for sliding movement on the buffer gear 3. The leaf spring 10 acts upwardly and holds the coupling 20 in a horizontal position. A feature of the construction is that a supporting means in the form of an adjustable rest 12 which includes a crowned surface 120 bears upwardly against the leaf spring 10 between the ends and 10b. The rest 12 includes a threaded spindle 24 which is threaded into a plate 26 to permit variation of the position of the crowned surface 12a in respect to the leaf spring 10. By adjusting the position of the rest 12 the coupling assembly 20 is adjusted in height.

The leaf spring 10 is dimensioned so that it carries the weight of the coupling 20 and holds the latter in the horizontal position. Turning of the entire coupling 20 about the pivot 7 in a horizontal plane is possible since the supporting arm 8 which holds the end 10a of the leaf spring is connected with the bottom end 7a of the pivot 7 and follows its turning movement.

What is claimed is:

l. A buffer coupling, particularly for rail vehicles, comprising pivot pin means adapted to be supported on a rail vehicle, a coupling head including a buffer gear having a connecting arm extending outwardly from said pivot pin means, universal joint means pivotally supporting the inner end of said connecting arm on said pivot pin means for vertical and horizontal deflection of said connecting arm, a support arm carried by said pivot pin means, a cantilever leaf spring adapted to sup port said coupling head and extending substantially in a longitudinal buffer direction, and having an inner end secured to a first point on said support arm and an outer free end connected to said coupling head and urging said coupling head into a central position with respect to vertical deflection, and an adjustable rest carried on said support arm at a second point and bearing against said leaf spring at a location spaced from said first point to support the outer free end of said spring in the extended position, said first and second points being on substantially diametrically opposite sides of said pivot pin means.

2. A buffer coupling, according to claim 1, wherein said pivot pin means comprises a substantially vertical pivot pin, and means for rotatably supporting said pivot pin on a rail vehicle, said universal joint means comprising a portion of said connecting arm engaged around said pivot pin and defining a ball and socket joint for universal pivotal movement of said connecting arm with said coupling head.

,3. A buffer coupling, according to claim 2including a sliding plate carried on said buffer gear, said opposite end of said spring being engaged with said sliding plate.

4. A buffer coupling, according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable rest comprises a rest member having a crowned surface bearing against said spring, a supporting plate carried on said support arm, and a threaded spindle threadably engaged in said supporting plate and connected to said rest for shifting the position of said rest relative to said spring.

5. A buffer coupling, according to claim 1, wherein said pivot pin means comprises a substantially vertical pin means rotatably supporting said pin, said support arm being affixed to said pin for rotation therewith, said support arm and said leaf spring being pivotable about said pivot with said coupling head. 

1. A buffer coupling, particularly for rail vehicles, comprising pivot pin means adapted to be supported on a rail vehicle, a coupling head inclUding a buffer gear having a connecting arm extending outwardly from said pivot pin means, universal joint means pivotally supporting the inner end of said connecting arm on said pivot pin means for vertical and horizontal deflection of said connecting arm, a support arm carried by said pivot pin means, a cantilever leaf spring adapted to support said coupling head and extending substantially in a longitudinal buffer direction, and having an inner end secured to a first point on said support arm and an outer free end connected to said coupling head and urging said coupling head into a central position with respect to vertical deflection, and an adjustable rest carried on said support arm at a second point and bearing against said leaf spring at a location spaced from said first point to support the outer free end of said spring in the extended position, said first and second points being on substantially diametrically opposite sides of said pivot pin means.
 2. A buffer coupling, according to claim 1, wherein said pivot pin means comprises a substantially vertical pivot pin, and means for rotatably supporting said pivot pin on a rail vehicle, said universal joint means comprising a portion of said connecting arm engaged around said pivot pin and defining a ball and socket joint for universal pivotal movement of said connecting arm with said coupling head.
 3. A buffer coupling, according to claim 2 including a sliding plate carried on said buffer gear, said opposite end of said spring being engaged with said sliding plate.
 4. A buffer coupling, according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable rest comprises a rest member having a crowned surface bearing against said spring, a supporting plate carried on said support arm, and a threaded spindle threadably engaged in said supporting plate and connected to said rest for shifting the position of said rest relative to said spring.
 5. A buffer coupling, according to claim 1, wherein said pivot pin means comprises a substantially vertical pin means rotatably supporting said pin, said support arm being affixed to said pin for rotation therewith, said support arm and said leaf spring being pivotable about said pivot with said coupling head. 